Sleep Apnea
Definition
Sleep apnea is the occurrence of periods of time when you stop
breathing while you are asleep. These periods can be as brief as ten
seconds, but are sometimes much longer. When you stop breathing, you do
not get the oxygen that your body needs and will also awaken –
momentarily – just before you start breathing normally again. This can
occur hundreds of times throughout the night and can keep you from
getting the restful sleep you need.
Signs and Symptoms
- Snoring, interrupted by pauses in breathing
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Restless sleep
- Excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day
- Poor judgment or concentration
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Obesity
- Large neck size (>17” in men; >16” in women)
- Crowded airway
- Morning headache
- Sexual dysfunction
- Frequent urination at night
Dangers of going untreated
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that robs its victims of restful
sleep and may cause considerable health problems. It can decrease the
quality of life for anyone who goes untreated. When left untreated, the
disorder can lead to serious consquences such as:
- Increased risk of heart problems
- Increased risk of stroke
- Increased risk of high blood pressure
- Motor vehicle accidents or accidents at work
Treatment options
- Sleep hygiene improvement
- Body position retraining
- C-pap or Bi-pap
- Surgery
Links
If you have a sleep study evaluation appointment with our office,
please go to the forms tab on this website and download the sleep
evaluation form, complete it and bring it with you to your appointment.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Definition
This disorder appears in otherwise healthy people, is not related to
emotional or psychological disorders. Although it affects mostly the
legs, as the name suggests, it can also affect the arms. People
experience restless legs in many different ways, but all describe very
unpleasant “creepy, crawly” sensations that occur in the legs when they
are sitting or lying still, especially at bedtime.
Links
Narcolepsy
Definition
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder defined by constant sleepiness and a
tendency to sleep at inappropriate times.
Signs and Symptoms
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Cataplexy (sudden loss of strength in muscles
- Sleep paralysis
- Hypnagogic hallucinations (hallucinations that occur just before
falling asleep, during naps, and/or on waking up).
Treatment options
- Medication
- Behavior treatment
Links
American
Academy of Sleep Medicine
Insomnia
Definition
Trouble falling asleep – commonly termed insomnia – plagues one in
three American adults. If you suffer from insomnia, it disturbs your
waking hours as well as your sleeping hours, since you’re likely to fell
sleepy during the day and have trouble concentrating on tasks after a
poor nights sleep.
Links
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
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